Pope Stephen VII, also known as Stephen VI, served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 896 to 897. He is best known for his controversial actions during the Cadaver Synod, where he posthumously tried the the previous pope, Formosus, by exhuming his body and placing it on trial. This event shocked many and highlighted the intense political struggles within the Church at the time. Stephen VII's papacy was marked by instability and conflict, reflecting the turbulent nature of the late 9th century in Rome. His reign was short-lived, ending with his imprisonment and eventual death, which some sources suggest may have been a result of political intrigue and violence among rival factions within the Church.